Teaching problems of 5-year-old pupils, 2013

21 Dec 2012

In December 2012, the Institute of Social Studies and Analysis conducted a research by the order of LEPL Teacher Profession Development Center to study teaching problems of 5-year-old students.  The aim of the study was to examine the difficulties raised at the age of 5 years and to elaborate recommendations for their settlement.

Target groups were:

• Teachers of the 1st and 2nd class who have experience in working with 5-year-old pupils;
• Parents of elementary class pupils, who enrolled their children at school at the age of five; Psychologists, pediatricians, education experts.

Research method: Focus-group

Tool: Focus-group guideline

During the research process the focus group was conducted as follows:

• Parents who have enrolled 5-year-old child in school: 3 groups (Tbilisi, Gori, Batumi);
• Teachers who teach/taught 5-year-old pupils: 3 groups (Tbilisi, Gori, Batumi);
• 2 Expert focus group: psychologists, pediatricians, staff involved in education reform;

At first stage of the research together with representatives of the National Center for Teacher Professional Development focus-groups guidelines were elaborated(3 in total), for parents, teachers, and experts. At the next stage criteria for the teacher, recruitment was determined. Pre-prepared supervisors provided focus group planning. The focus groups were led by a moderator. Focus groups were filmed using audio and video means.

At the analytical phase of the research was carried out content and structural processing of focus groups.